IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 143, 20 June 1938, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

HAND MILKING RECORDS. THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE. {To the Editor.) “Old-Timer” asks for information about hand milking, past and present. As to the number of cows that could be milked per hour by hand, a great deal depends on other conditions. For instance, the time of year, whether in December when the cows are in flush milking or iu March when going off, also whether the cows be easy or hard to milk. I quite believe a good milker with an average lot of cows —in a contest —could milk nine to ten cows an hour, but under ordinary conditions he could not average more than six or seven in flush milking. My own experience may be of some assistance. During the war I was left with 25 cows, all heavy milkers, which I milked by hand for most of the season, taking in the flush up to 10001 b of milk a day to the. creamery. I timed myself very often, ami found under ordinary conditions it took me just four hours in the flush to do the milking, about six cows an hour, and it was real, solid work to keep this up for four hours. When it came to March, with the cows going off, I could put them through in 24 to 3 hours. So it can be seen it is essential to know the time of the year as well as the cows handled before judgment can be given. I may mention I was a man of 30 before I milked a cow. and it took me four years to become a good milker. Machinery has eliminated much of the real toil of milking. Imagine the old conditions—eight hours a day in the cowshed, with an ordinary day’s work in between, and contrast that with milking machines, clbctric power, motor traction and harvesting machinery, with guaranteed prices thrown in—well, I guess the young farmer knows when he is well off. C.A.F.

MEANS TEST.

I think it is about time that the people of this country woke up to the reckless spending of public moneys by this so-called Unemployed Placement Department. Men of good standing and men of experience in all trades of life have lately been subjected to the most gruelling cross-examination test possible. Even a criminal department would not have put the questions that the writer of this letter was subjected to. First question: Are you a teetotaller, and what is the extent of your consumption of alcohol? (2) How much do you smoke per week? (3) What is your height? (4) What is your weight? (5) What is your favourite hobby? (6) What sport do you follow most? (7) What line of work are you accustomed to, light or heavy? After obligingly answering these questions, what followed was simply this: Notice to attend placement Office for a job; nature of job. road work. The questionnaire had travelled all the way from Wellington, involving further expense in order to put decent citizens under this means test. These are things the public should know arc happening daily. Furthermore, old men well over the retiring age have now been given a job at pick and shovel work in the middle of this cold and bleak winter. I was an eyewitness of this deplorable state of affairs last Friday. W. WHITTAKER.

MOUNT EDEN STREETS.

It is again that I read ■with pleasure a protest from a ratepayer re the change of street names in Mount Eden. It is a great pity that there are not more ratepayers who will take a little interest in the borough and see that this is stopped, or more will be sure to follow. Again, I must enter my protest to aiiy change of the names of the 26 streets. Our newly polished council is only looking for | trouble for the next 20 years. Most of the i present names have served Mount Eden for the past 60 years or more and are known to correspondents abroad. There is a very old saying “Let sleeping dogs lie.” The same applies to our street names. Is there no one living in any of these suggested streets game to say a word? Are they afraid of a black look from the newly elected Mayor? THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR RATEPAYER.

THOSE MILLIONS.

Whoever denies, as Mr. H. S. Winthrop does, that the money we acquire in London by the sale of our exports can be used for the purchase of the goods we desire to import, or for any other purpose that any other money can be used for, is simply talking at random. By purchases from the trading banks, and purchases from the farmers, tiie Government and its hank have, during the last few years, acquired money in London, money not in the least different from any other money, equal in value to over sixty millions in dur currency. All this money was acquired by the issue of credits, credits that, according to our reformers, cost a few pen strokes, and according to Mr. Winthrop, 2/for each £lOO. Thus the Government has. in a few years, gained over sixty millions, and none of our reformers has shown what the Government has done with them. J. JOHNSTONE. [This correspondence is now closed—Ed.]

IS IT CRICKET?

We have just been reading comment on the Test match. Consequently I have had tn ■ answer a few questions. My wife thinks it very unfair that the fate of the match should [depend upon the toss. She says there ought I to be four pitches—one pitch per innings per :team per match. S’n also thinks it silly not | to play the match out. She says they always .did that. I am quite .sure that’they did. but I lam pretty certain (it was before I knew her) | that the game was r-nniders. Sim aMo would like to write to “The Times" about it. but perhaps yon would print this and add “London papers please copy.” just to please her ami save her from disappointment. I remain von” esteemed reader, and, I trust, ,-n esteemed hubby. HOHEPPA.

CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT

I I absolutely agree with “Audax” that “it 'is just as well for everyone to remember who [made our prosperity possible.” We had -on ■ through a world donrc'-sion when our national income had been halved. Th? last Government [steered us through that crids and left a [balanced Budget, a sound Treasury, and [reduced the national debt: and thus made our [present prosperity possible when export pri-es brought our national income back to normal. The present Government owes a debt of gratitude to its predecessors fp'- the sound finaivial position when it to->k ofiice; It is therefore “just as well.” as “Audax” says, for us to remember this. ’ AJAX.

CITY COUNCIL VACANCY.

I notice that the chairman of the Power Board and others have expressed regret that Mr. Tom Bloodworth, M.L.C., was not returned at the last election, as he was a ver-v useful member. Might I suggest that now 'there is a vacancy in the Citv Council he should be nominated to fill the vacancy and returned unopposed? That .would save the cost of another ballot and save the council much “’W* C. A. BROWN (Sen.).